Improvement in needle-threading devices



JULIA FOSTER. NEEDLE THREADING DEVICE. No.18Z,57Z. Patented Sept. 26, 187E.

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JULIA FOSTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN NEEDLE-THREADING DEVICES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,572, dated September 26, 1876; application filed March 14, 1876.

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Mrs. JULIA FOSTER, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful N eedle-Threading Device for Sewing-Machines and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of vthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in Whicht Figure 1 shows my invention as applied to the presser-foot of a sewing-machine.

The object of my invention is to provide a permanent attachment or fixture for sewingmachines which will facilitate the operation of threading the needle, by enabling the eye of the latter to be more easily seen than at present by persons having impaired vision.

My invention consists, essentially, in affixing to the presser or other foot of the machine, or to any other part of the machine occupying an equivalent position with reference to the eye of the needle, a piece of material of different color than that of the needle, so that said color will show through the eye of the latter when looked for, and thus facilitate the insertion of the thread.

In carrying my invention into practical effect, I affix to the presser or other foot a small piece of copper, enameled on its outer or exposed side, so as to present a white surface to view, which will be readily seen through the eye of the needle, and whereby the threading operation will be rendered more certain and easy than at present.

In the accompanying drawing, A designates a presser'or otherfoot of a sewing-machine of any construction, to which this improvement is or may be applicable. B is the needle, having the usual eye at b. O is a small piece of copper, having its exposed side enameled, so as to show a white surface, affixed permanently to the foot A, in such position that when looking at or through the eye I) said white surface will be seen.

I do not wish to be understood as claiming,- broadly, any needle-threading attachment to sewing-machines. I am aware that devices having in view the same object as mine-that is, the illumination or clear indication of the position of the eye of the needlehave been used. described in English Patents Nos. 120 and 2,567, of 1872. My invention differs from these particularly in points of simplicity, cheapness, and convenience, the reflector being simply a minute speck ofwhite enamel, embeddedin, and integral with, the presser-foot, with neither the size nor arrangement of which it interferes, and not projecting beyond the sides of the presser-foot. From its nature, the reflector, which I claim as my invention, may be used with any kind of a presser-f oot, whether the same be a combined hemmer and presser-foot or other device, differing in this respect from any detachable spoon-shaped or otherwise formed reflector.

What I claim as my invention is- A presser-foot for sewing-machines, formed with a device for indicating the position of the eye of the needle, said device consisting of a light spot or plate, backed by, and integral with, said foot, but distinct in appearance therefrom, as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of March, 1876.

MRS. JULIA FOSTER.

Devices of this character have been 

